Despite racial discrimination suit, Comcast named top spot for Latinas to work

Latina Style Magazine today crowned Philadelphia-based Comcast as “Company of the Year” in its 15th annual list of the top 50 companies for female Hispanic employees in the U.S.

“Every year, since 1998, we have produced the Latina Style 50 Special Report,” said CEO and President of Latina Style, Inc. Robert Bard. “It is the most intensive effort that our company undertakes in ensuring that Latinas and the companies that they work for receive the recognition they deserve.”

Comcast scored high marks for its increase in Latina employees – its overall percentage of Hispanic employees jumped nearly two percent between 2010 and 2011 – recruitment policies targeting Latinas, an employee resource group educating Hispanics about advancement opportunities and the acquirement last year of Spanish-language broadcasting network Telemundo.

At the same time, according to the magazine, less than five percent of Comcast employees are Latina and their board of directors – which consists of 10 men and one woman – has no Latinas at all.

The honor also comes at a time when Comcast is embroiled in a civil rights lawsuit filed last year by employees at its South Side Chicago location. They allege the company engaged in systematic practices discriminating against minority employees and customers, including circulating a work order reading, “send White Tech only,” according to the complaint.

Bard did not return calls for comment. A representative from Comcast said it is their policy not to comment on ongoing litigation.

Over 800 Fortune 1000 companies are evaluated through a survey sent out by the magazine, then ranked based on their leadership and recruitment programs, employee benefits, Latina representation in top wage-earning and senior positions and involvement in the Hispanic community.